Apparatus for installing clips in coil springs



Feb. 16, 1954 G. D. FENTON ET AL 2,669,275

APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING cups IN 0011. SPRINGS Filed Feb. 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FILES- 72- hwentm's:

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Feb. 16, 1954 G. D. FENTON ET AL APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CLIPS IN COIL SPRINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5. 1951' FIEJT.

W MN w eNmAM m ma L WM a5 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CLIPS IN COIL SPRINGS George Donald Fenton and Emil S. Tideman, Worcester, Mass.

Application February 5, 1951, Serial No. 209,505

8 Claims.

This invention relatesto apparatus for installing flat wire clips in the end coils of closely wound coil springs and more particularly to springs which are used in conjunction with overhead garage doors. In these springs it is necessary to install M -shaped clips between convolutions near the end of the spring such as the second and third convolutions. Prior to our invention this was done by forcing an opening in the coil with a hand tool and then twisting a clip into the opening to the proper depth. When the clip was properly positioned, it was necessary to hammer the end tabs of the clip shut. This method was slow and the labor cost was extremely high. There was also definite accident hazard in assembling the clip.

It is an object of our invention to provide semi-automatic apparatus for attaching M- shaped clips into the end coils of a closely wound coil spring.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of our machine with parts cut away;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially through the center line of a spring located in position for a clip to be inserted therein;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line V-V of Figure l;

Figured is a schematic diagram of the air cylinders and the air system therefor;

Figure '7 is a view showing the various cams for controlling the operation of the machine;

Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram; and

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a book used in connection with our invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the reference numeral 2 indicates a machine frame having a horizontal top 4. A spring trough or feed table ii is supported above the top it by means of an adjustable bar 8 fastened to the rear end of the frame 2. If desired, an outboard support (not shown) may also be provided. Mounted on the table top 5 at one side of the spring trough 6 is a stationary vise jaw (2. Mounted on the table top 8 in alignment with the saw 12, but on the opposite side of spring trough S, are guides M which receive a movable vise jaw I6. Jaw It :is attached to the piston rod of a piston it which is received in an air cylinder 20 having an air inlet 22 at its rear end. A spring 24 is provided for retracting the jaw it when air pressure is removed from the piston. The inner ends of the jaws l2 and [5 are beveled downwardly and outwardly so as to better hold the coil spring S.

Air cylinders 26 and 2B are mounted on table top 4 in substantial alignment with each other and in substantial parallelism with air cylinder 28. Cylinder 25 s provided with air conduits 3t and 32 at its ends and air cylinder 28 is provided with conduits 34 and 36 at its ends. Mounted on piston rods 38 and 40 of the cylinders 2t and 28 are hammers 42 and M respectively. The inner faces of the hammers 42 and M are provided with horizontal grooves 46 and 48.

A bracket 55) extends upwardly from the table top 4 and supports a vertical air cylinder 52, the axis of which is located between the hammers 42 and 44. Air conduits 54 and 56 are provided, one at each end of the air cylinder 52. A hearing 58 is mounted on the support 56 and slidably receives an arbor 60 which is attached to the piston rod 62 of the piston of the air cylinder 52. The lower part of the arbor 60 is provided with a vertical groove 64 on its forward face. The rear face of the bottom part of thearbor 60 is cut away at 6B.

Mounted on the machine frame 2 below table top A is an air cylinder 68 having air conduits Hi and 12, one at each end. The air cylinder 68 is in substantial alignment with the air cylinder 52 except that it is slightly to the rear thereof. A piston M is slidably mounted in the air cylinder 58 and has connected thereto a member 16 which extends upwardly toward the table 4. Connected to the top of the member 16 by means of a hinge I8 is a tool carrying member 80. A spring 82 fastened to the face of the member 16 extends over the front of tool carrying member 80. A pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools 86 extends upwardly from and are fastened to the member 80. A stop member is fastened to and extends upwardly from the member St to a distance less than the height of the tools 84. A horizontal air cylinder 88 is mounted on the machine frame 2 above and to one side of the air cylinder 68. Air conduits 50 and 92 are connected to the ends of the cylinder 38. Fastened to the piston of the air cylinder 88 is a stop member 94 which ishori zontally slidable in a guide 98 froma position at one side of the member 16 to a'position'ln the path of travel of the member 16. In this second position stop member 94 contacts a shoulder 98 on the member I6 to limit downward move-- ment thereof.

A cam shaft I is mounted on the machine frame 2 in any desirable location preferably below the table top 4. The cam shaft I00 is rotated by the motor I02 through a gear reducer I04. A brake I06 is provided between the motor I02 and the gear reducer I04. The cam shaft I00 has nine cams A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and J mounted thereon. A normally open push button starting switch I08 is provided on the front of the machine in a position easily accessible to the operator. A cam switch I I0 is mounted adjacent cam A which is provided with three depressed. positions in which the normally closed contacts of the switch are open. When the switches I08 and H0 are in their normal position the motor I06 is started in operation by momentarily depressing the push button switch I08. When this occurs power from the lines LI and L2 flows through the relay coil II2 thus energizing the coil and causing its contacts II2CI and II2C2 to close. This causes current to flow through the motor I02 from the line L2 to the contacts I I2C2 back to the line LI. When pressure is removed from the push button switch I08 the coil II2 remains energized since current flows from the line L2 to the cam switch IIO, contacts H20! and back to the line LI. Rotation of the motor I05 causes rotation of the shaft I00 and this rotation will continue until cam A reaches a position in which a depressed portion of cam A causes the contacts of the switch IIO to open. As soon as this occurs the coil II2 becomes deenergized thus deenergizing the motor. However, the cam A continues to rotate a slight amount beyond the depressed portion of the cam before the cam shaft I00 is stopped by means of brake I06. Thus the contacts of switch I I0 again become closed.

Located adjacent the cams B, C, D, E, F, G, H and J are three-way air valves H4, H6, H8, I20, I22, I24, I26 and I28, respectively. Air for operating the hydraulic motors is supplied through an air conduit I30 having a branch line leading to each of the valves I I4 to I28, inclusive. Valve H4 is connected to conduit 22, valve H6 is connected to conduit 90, valve I I 8 is connected to conduit 92 valve I is connected to conduit 54, and valve I22 is connected to a conduit I32 which in turn is connected to the conduits and 36. Valve I24 is connected to a conduit I34 which in turn is connected to the conduits 32, 34 and 56; valve I26 is connected to conduit I0; and valve I28 is connected to conduit I2. The third port of each of the valves I I4 to I28 is open to the atmosphere and the valve will be in position to exhaust to the atmosphere when the connection to the air pressure line I30 is closed. The contours of the cams A to J, inclusive, are shown in Figure '7 in their positions at the start of operation of the machine. The operation of the valves I I4 to I28 is the same in each instance and is best shown in Figure 7. Each of the valves has an outlet I36 to the supply line I30, an outlet I38 to the operating cylinder and an exhaust port I40 to the atmosphere. A bracket I42 is fastened to the valve body and pivotally supports a cam lever I44 having a cam follower I 46 at its free end which bears against the respective cams. In the position shown in the drawing plunger I48 of the valve is depressed by lever I44 and there is flow of air from the air supply to the operating cylinder. When the cam moves to a position inwhich the cam follower Mt contacts a depressed portion of the cam, the plunger I48 moves upwardly connecting the port I38 to exhaust port I40 and closing off port I36.

The operation of the device is as follows: With the cams in the position shown all of the pistons will be in their retracted position and the machine is ready for operation. The operator then feeds a spring S into the trough 6 with its front end positioned to the rear of the cylinder 68. The vertical position of the spring S may be varied by providing a removable plate I56 of the desired thickness beneath the spring. The push button switch I08 is momentarily depressed, thus causing rotation of the motor I02 which in turn causes rotation of all of the cams in the direction shown. Rotation of the motor continues until the cam A reaches the depressed portion AI where opening of the switch IIO causes deenergization of the motor I06. However, the motor continues to turn until the cam follower rises out of the depression AI. The brake I06 then stops all rotation of the motor. In the meantime cam J reaches point J I which opens valve I28 to supply air through conduit I2 to the cylinder 68. This causes upward movement of the tools 84 to a position above the top level of spring S. In this position the stop 86 will be in line with the spring S. The spring S is then moved against the stop 88 which positions it for insertion of the clip M. The push button switch I08 is then depressed momentarily to energize the motor I 02 causing rotation of the cams until the depressed portion A2 of cam A reaches its lowest point of travel. Rotation of the motor I02 then stops in the same manner as described above. In the meantime cam B has rotated so that cam follower I46 contacts point BI, thus supplying air through conduit 22 to cylinder 20 which causes the jaw I 8 to move inwardly toward jaw I2 thus clamping the spring S in centered position. Cam C has also rotated to a position where cam follower I46 bears against point CI, this opening valve H6 to admit air to the rear of cylinder 88, thus moving stop 94 to its inner position. Shortly after valve H6 opens cam H reaches point HI thus opening valve I26 to admit air to conduit I0 and cam J reaches point J2 closing valve I 28, thus permitting exhaust of air through conduit 12. This pulls the tools 84 downwardly to the position shown in Figure 4, thus forming an opening between the second and third convolutions in the spring S as shown. It will be noted that shoulder 88 bears against stop 94 limiting the downward movement of the piston I4. The operator then pushes the clip M down through the opening in the convolutions and pulls it to the position shown in Figure 4. The operator holds the end of the clip C in the position shown in Figure 5 by means of a hook I52, the end of which is received in the groove 64. The operator then momentarily depresses the push button switch I08 which causes the motor I06 to rotate until point A3 reaches its lowest point of travel. The motor then stops rotating in the manner described above. In this position the cam shaft I00 has returned to its original position. Various operations take place during this movement of the cam. First point DI of cam D reaches its lowest position, causing valve H8 to open admitting air through conduit 82 to the front end of cylinder 88, thus retracting the stop 94. This permits piston I4 to complete its stroke to move tools 84 completely through the spring, thus permitting the convolutionstq close on the clip M.

Pre-

vious to this time the valve H6 had been opened to atmosphere. When point El of camv E reaches its lowest position valve I20- will open thus. ad mitting air to conduit 54 and the upper end of cylinder 52. Point CH of cam G also reaches: its lowest position, thus opening valve I24 to atmosphere. This admittance of air to conduit 54 forces the arbor downwardly to the position shown in Figure 4, in which position the arbor acts as an anvil. Point Fl of cam F then reaches its lowest position, thus admitting air through valve [22 to conduits 30 and 36 causing the hammers 42' and 44 to move inwardly and bend the outer legs MI and M2 against the inner legs of the clip M, thus fastening the clip securely to the spring S. Point E2 of cam E then reaches its lowest point, thus opening valve I21; at atmosphere and point G2 of cam G reaches its lowest point opening valve i2 3 to retract the anvil 60 and the hammers 42 and 44. Point F2 of cam F reaches its lowest point at the same time thus opening valve [22 to atmosphere and permitting this reverse movement of the hammers. Point B2 of cam 13 then reaches its lowest point, thus opening valve M4 to atmosphere permitting the spring 24 to open the vise to release the spring S. This completes the operation, the spring is removed and the machine is ready to receive another spring for insertion of a clip.

' While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal feed table for the spring, means for clamping a coil spring in position on said feed table, four fluid cylinders arranged radially around one end of the clamped coil spring at approximately 90 intervals, a piston in each of said cylinders, a pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools attached to and movable with one of said pistons, an arbor attached to and movable with the piston opposite the tool carrying piston, a hammer attached to each of the other two pistons, means for causing said tool carrying piston to move radially to force said tools part way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, means for causing said tool carrying piston to move radially to move said tools out of engagement with said spring after an M -shaped clip has been inserted in position through said spring, means for causing said arbor carrying piston to move radially inwardly to insert said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for causing said hammer carrying pistons to move radially inwardly to force said hammers against the outer legs of said clip and bend them against the inner legs, means for causing said arbor and hammer carrying pistons to move radially outwardly toretract the arbor and hammers from said spring.

2. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal feed table for the spring, means for clamping a coil spring in position on said feed table, four fluid cylinders arranged radially around one end of the clamped coil spring at approximately 90 intervals, a piston in each of said cylinders, a pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools attached to and, movable with one of said pistons, an arbor attached to and movable with the-piston opposite the, tool carrying piston, a hammer attached to each or the other two pistons, means for causin said tool carrying piston to move radially to force said tools part way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, means for stopping movement of said tool carrying piston alter the tools have separated said adjacent coils of the spring, means for completing movement of said tools through said spring after a clip has been inserted in position through said spring, means for causing said arbor carrying piston to move radially inwardly to insert said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for causing said hammer carrying pistons to move radially inwardly to force said hammers against the outer legs of said clip and bend them against the inner legs, means for causing said arbor and hammer carrying pistons to move radially outwardly to retract the arbor and hammers from said spring.

3. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal iced table for the spring, means for clamping a coil spring in position on said feed table, four fluid cylinders arranged radially around one end of the clamped coil spring at approximately intervals, a piston in each of said cylinders, a pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools attached to and movable with one of said pistons, an end stop for said spring carried by said tool carrying piston below said tools, an abutment connected to said tool carrying piston, a fifth fluid cylinder between said table and the cylinder of the tool carrying piston arranged at approximately right angles thereto, a piston in said fifth cylinder, a horizontally movable stop member attached to said last named piston, an arbor attached to and movable with the piston opposite the tool carrying piston, a hammer attached to each of the other two pistons, means for causing said tool carrying piston to move radially to force said tools part way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, means for causing said fifth piston to move inwardly until its stop member moves into position to engage the abutment and prevent further outward movement of said tools, means for causing said fifth piston to move outwardly to remove its stop member from engagement with said abutment and permit said tools to complete their movement through said spring after a clip has been inserted in position through said spring, means for causing said arbor carrying piston to move radially inwardly to insert said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for r causing said hammer carrying pistons to move radially inwardly to force said hammers against the outer legs of said clip and bend them against the inner legs, means for causing said arbor and hammer carrying pistons to move radially outwardly to retract the arbor and hammers from said spring.

l. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal feed table for the spring, means for clampa coil in position on said teed table, four fluid cylinders arranged radially around one end of the clamped coil spring at approximately 9%) intervals, a piston in each of said cylinders, a tool carrying member pivotally connected to one of pistons, pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools mounted on said tool carrying memher, an end stop for said spring mounted on said tool carrying member inwardly of said tools, an abutment connected tosaid last named piston, a fifth fluid cylinder between said table and the 7, cylinder of the tool carrying piston arranged at approximately right angles thereto, a piston in fifth cylinder, a horizontally movable stop member attached to said last named piston, an arbor attached to and movable with the piston opposite the tool carrying piston, a hammer attached to each of the other two pistons, means for causing said tool carrying piston to move radially to force said tools part way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, means for causing said fifth piston to move inwardly until its stop member moves into position to engage the abutment and prevent further outward movement of said tools, means for causing said fifth piston to move outwardly to remove its stop member from engagement with said abutment and permit said tools to complete their movement through said spring after a clip has been inserted in position through said spring, means for causing said arbor carrying piston to move radially inwardly to insert said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for causing said hammer carrying pistons to move radially inwardly to force said hammers against the outer legs of said clip and bend them against the inner legs, means for causing said arbor and hammer carrying pistons to move radially outwardly to retract the arbor and hammers from said spring.

5. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal feed table for the spring, a stationary vise jaw at one side of the feed table, a movable vise jaw at the other side of the feed table, a fluid cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, connecting said piston to said movable vise jaw to clamp a coil spring in position on said feed table. four cylinders arranged radially around the clamped end of the clamped coil spring at ap proximately 90 intervals, a piston in each of said cylinders, a pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools attached to and movable with one of said pistons, an arbor attached to and movable with the piston opposite the tool carrying piston, a hammer attached to each of the other two pistons, means for causing said tool carrying piston to move radially to force said tools part Way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, means for stopping movement of said tool carrying piston after the tools have separated said adjacent coils of the spring, means for completing movement of said tools through said spring after a clip has been inserted in position through said spring, means for said arbor carrying piston to move radially inwardly to insert said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for causing said hammer carrying pistons to move radially inwardly to force said hammers against the outer legs of said clip and bend them against the inner legs, means for causing said arbor and hammer carrying pistons to move radially outwardly to retract the arbor and hammers from said spring.

6. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal feed table for the spring, a vise jaw at one side of the feed table, a movable vise jaw at the other side of the feed table, a fluid cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, means connecting said piston to said movable vise jaw, a second fluid cylinder below said feed table, a piston insaid second fluid cylinder, a wedge shaped tool attached to said last named piston, a third fluid cylinder above said feed table in substantial align- 8. ment with'said second cylinder, a piston in said third cylinder, a downwardly extending arbor attached to said last named piston, fourth and fifth fluid cylinders mounted one on each side of said feed table at approximately the same elevation as said feed table and in substantially the same vertical plane as said third cylinder, a piston in each of said last named cylinders, a hammer connected to each of said last named pistons, means for supplying fluid to the rear of said first cylinder to clamp a coil spring in said vise, means for supplying fluid to the second cylinder to force the tools part way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, means for causing said tool carrying piston to move said tools through said spring after an M-shaped clip has been inserted in position through said separated coils, means for supplying fluid to the top of said third cylinder to move said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for supplying fluid to the outer ends of said fourth and fifth cylinders to force said hammers against the outer legs of said clip and bend them against the inner legs, means for supplying fluid to the inner ends of said third, fourth and fifth cylinders to retract the hammers and arbor from said spring, and means for retracting the movable vise jaw to release said spring.

7. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal feed table for the spring, a vise jaw at one side of the feed table, a movable vise jaw at the other side of the feed table, a fluid cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, means connecting said piston to said movable vise jaw, a second fluid cylinder below said feed table, a piston in said second fluid cylinder, a vertically movable tool carrying member connected to said last named piston, a pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools mounted on said tool carrying member, an end stop for said spring mounted on said tool carrying member below said tools, an abutment connected to said last named piston, a third fluid cylinder above said feed table in substantial alignment with said second cylinder, a piston in said third cylinder, a downwardly extending arbor attached to said last named piston, fourth and fifth fluid cylinders mounted one on each side of said feed table at approximately the same elevation as said feed table and in substantially the same vertical plane as said third cylinder, a piston in each of said last named cylinders, a hammer connected to each of said last named pistons, means for supplying fluid to the bottom of said second cylinder to raise the stop thereof to a position in alignment with a spring on said feed table, means for supplying fluid to the rear of said first cylinder to clamp a coil spring in said vise, means for supplying fluid to the top of said second cylinder to force the tools downwardly part way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, means for stopping movement of said tool carrying piston after the tools have separated adjacent coils of the spring, means for making said last named means inoperative to permit movement of said tools through said spring after an M-shaped clip has been inserted in position through said separated coils and arranged in a horizontal position, means for supplying fluid to the top of said third cylinder to move said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for supplying fluid to the outer ends of said fourth and fifth cylinders to force said hammers against the outer legs of said clip and bend them against the inner legs, means for supplying fluid to the inner ends of said third, fourth and fifth cylinders to retract the hammers and arbor from said spring, and means for retracting the movable vise jaw to release said spring.

8. Apparatus for installing an M-shaped clip on a coil spring comprising a substantially horizontal feed table for the spring, a vise jaw at one side of the feed table, a movable vise law at the other side of the feed table, a fluid cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, means connecting said piston to said movable vise jaw, a second fluid cylinder below said feed table, a piston in said second fluid cylinder, a vertically movable tool carrying member pivotally connected to said last named piston, a pair of spaced apart wedge shaped tools mounted on said tool carrying member, an end stop for said spring mounted on said tool carrying member below said tools, an abutment connected to said last named piston, a third fluid cylinder between said second fluid cylinder and the feed table, a piston in said third fluid cylinder, a horizontally movable stop member attached to said last named piston, a fourth fluid cylinder above said feed table in substantial alignment with said second cylinder, a piston in said fourth cylinder, a downwardly extending arbor attached to said last named piston, fifth and sixth fluid cylinders mounted one on each side of said feed table in approximately the same vertical plane as said fourth cylinder, a piston in each of said last named cylinders, a hammer connected to each of said last named pistons, means for supplying fluid to the bottom of said second cylinder to raise its stop to a position in alignment with a spring on said feed table, means for supplying fluid to the rear of said first cylinder to clamp a coil spring in said vise, means for supplying fluid to the rear of said third cylinder to move its stop member to a position below the said abutment, means for supplying fluid to the top of the second cylinder to force the tools downwardly part way through the coil spring to separate a pair of adjacent coils thereof, said stop member bearing against said abutment to stop downward movement of said tool carrying member, means for supplying fluid to the forward end of said third cylinder to retract it stop member from beneath said abutment to permit movement of said tools through said spring after an M-shaped clip has been inserted through said separated coils and arranged in a horizontal position, means for supplying fluid to the top of said fourth cylinder to move said arbor into a position between the inner legs of said clip, means for supplying fluid to the outer ends of said fifth and sixth cylinders to force said hammers against the inner legs, means for supplying fluid to the inner ends of said fourth, fifth and sixth cylinders to retract the hammers and arbor from said spring, and means for retracting the movable vise jaw to release said spring.

G. DONALD FENTON.

EMIL S. TIDEMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,451,936 Young Apr. 17, 1923 1,463,460 Cooper July 31, 1923 1,677,968 Hughes July 24, 1928 1,701,240 Young Feb. 5, 1929 2,086,992 Weber July 13, 1937 2,078,828 Baer et al. Apr. 27, 1937 2,385,357 Haas Sept. 25, 1945 2,449,653 Isaac et al Sept. 21, 1948 2,592,276 Hackbarth Apr. 8, 1952 

